With two expansion teams announced and a year into understanding the branding of the other six teams, we thought it would be fun to come up with some ideas for the two new teams. We also needed to blow off some stream from the stress of this postseason. So here are some slightly silly, slightly serious thoughts on what should become of PWHL Vancouver. Check out the Seattle post here.
Nicole Haase: Similar to the issue with Seattle and the Fleet, Vancouver announced their color as Pacific Blue and frankly, it looks really close to what the Sirens are already wearing. Even if they choose to go more blue (which is the way I think it would have to go with Seattle and Boston in green) then they’re veering towards Toronto’s blue.
I hate that in both cases the choice seems to be more tied to the cutesy connection of the name of the color than with thoughts to unique brand identity. They will also be going with cream, which I like less here because the cream really seems to jump against a darker, more contrasting color.
The two main colors not currently in use in the league are orange and yellow, so those seem like a place to start. But a different shade of blue would have worked. Navy and even a true royal blue, particularly with a secondary color other than yellow or maroon would be ok, as would, I think, purple if it was a different shade and/or had a lot of interesting additional colors/wasn’t used as thoroughly as with the Frost. Maroon and gold would be sufficiently different from the Victoire.
Sam Gray: WHY AREN’T THEY PINK?
NH: Ok, I did forget pink. What kind of pink are you thinking? Barbie pink? Cotton candy pink? Fuschia?
Actually, I love the idea of a berry color. The PWHL is kind of really settled in that Crayola Markers Bold Color set already, so it fits.
SG: I just think it’s missing in a lot of sports. Any pink is good but if people (the league) are scared of a loud Barbie pink, then maybe a deep Fuschia. Even pink as an accent. Yeah, yellow is missing, too so why don’t we have a team that is the equivalent of a field of flowers? Yellow and pink and green. I’m not an artist and I don’t know anything about color theory but there has to be something that isn’t so dark and serious. It’s been raining in Jersey for like two weeks straight, maybe I’m compromised.
For Vancouver, I don’t think the blue is too similar to Sirens turquoise, but I agree that a navy would look good (better) for a new team. Navy is so clean on ice.
And I definitely do not think maroon would be different enough from Victoire’s colors even if it was paired with gold. On-screen as well, the Charge red jerseys look so close to the Victoire maroon. So that would be too much red. There’s too much red!
Though I DO want to see some gold. Is the Toronto accent technically gold? I want MORE gold. Let’s do glitter!. On-screen as well, the Charge red jerseys look so close to the Victoire maroon. So that would be too much red. There’s too much red!
NH: It definitely depends on what shade Vancouver goes with because doing a web search for "pacific blue" definitely got me very close to Sirens territory.
As for a nickname, when looking up sea-themed ideas for the Seattle team I came across some suggestions from Inuit lore and I wonder if there’s a chance to partner with local Indigenous or First Nations groups here? It would require a lot of care to make sure it’s all handled with tact and grace, but it could be a really interesting way to tie into the community. One I saw being suggested was Naitaka, a "water demon" of indigenous legends
Aside from that, the obvious choice would seem to be Amazons, honoring the women’s hockey team of the same name that played in Vancouver in the 1920’s. I have no idea if there are logistics and legalities that might quickly sideline that idea, but it has to be said.
But if we're talking starting from scratch, my first thoughts were Kodiaks, Rockies, Glaciers and Summit. I saw some talk of Stellars for the Stellar’s Jay, the province’s official bird. They’re playing in the Pacific Coliseum on the ground of the Pacific National Exhibition, so just Pacific or Pacifico?
For alliteration, we have Vipers, Venom, Valor, Vibe. It’s too bad Golden State in the WNBA got to Valkyries first. But with the Victoire already, maybe they’d want to stay away from a V-name?
Liz K: Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to, and I wish there was a way to sum that up in one cute name. It’s also one of the biggest filming locations in the world, so a nod to that industry would be fun. I don’t know HOW you would nod to it though.
The only thing I could think of that even sounds like a team name (because I doubt they’ll be the Vancouver Directors) is the Vancouver Scouts (like location scouts?) and that isn’t obvious enough to line up with the rest of the naming conventions in the league.
NH: It's fun how we approached this so differently because I never thought of that here, much like I didn't think of aviation or how to make grunge work with Seattle.
The only film-related thing I came up with after you suggested it was Reel(s).
LK: That being said, their mascot should ONE HUNDRED PERCENT be something filming-related.
SG: Okay, I love Summit! And wow I LOVE Vancouver Valor, too. A lot. Who doesn’t love alliteration?
What about tree-related? What kind of trees are out there?
Vancouver Douglas Firs. Nailed it.
To Liz’s point, is Vista anything?
Vancouver Vista. With the Pacific Blue and Cream?
NH: Oooooh!
But also, thinking outside the pre-established parameters with the color choice and calling back to our pink convo, Vistas with a pink that echoes a sunset would be so cool!
SG: PWHL, call us. We might be onto something.
